Richards was going to leave his Peugeot 106 in a car park but made a 'wrong decision' to drive because of the amount he had had to drink, said Sean Fritchley, defending.

Mr Fritchley said Richards had since sold the car and had vowed never to drive again. He said Richards cared for his frail mother.

"Mr Richards regrets what he has done and has shown remorse. He is more concerned about what will happen to his mother than his liberty," Mr Fritchley added.

Chantel Lowery-Green, prosecuting, said Richards was stopped by police acting on information that a drunken driver was leaving a car park in the town centre. She added Richards was arrested on the spot.

District Judge John Foster said: "You have completely disregarded the drink drive laws for a long time. On this occasion, you had been drinking all day."